Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Danielle Wertz & Tal Cohen: "Intertwined"

Danielle Wertz was named one of eleven semi-finalists in the 2015 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition, and placed third in the 2017 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Vocal Competition. She is a 2015 DownBeat Student Music Award recipient and was named the inaugural winner of the Washington Women in Jazz Festival (WWJF) Young Artist Contest in 2012.

Tal Cohen was named the winner of the Barry Harris National Jazz Competition in Detroit, Michigan, and in 2015 he was named the 2015 winner of the coveted Freedman Jazz Fellowship in Sydney, Australia. Available April 21, 2017

Danielle Wertz is a jazz vocalist from Falls Church, Virginia. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Vocal Performance from the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, and studied under the direction of Dr. Kate Reid. Danielle was named one of eleven semi-finalists in the 2015 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition, and placed third in the 2017 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Vocal Competition. She is a 2015 DownBeat Student Music Award recipient and was named the inaugural winner of the Washington Women in Jazz Festival (WWJF) Young Artist Contest in 2012.

Danielle has performed in many established venues including The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Blues Alley, The Mansion at Strathmore, Bethesda Blues and Jazz, Twins Jazz, Nocturne Jazz and Supper Club, and the St. Petersburg Jazz Philharmonic Hall. She has also had the privilege of working and performing with many renowned musicians including Cyrille Aimée, Gretchen Parlato, Chris Botti, Bruce Hornsby, Michael Bowie, Martin Bejerano, Lena Seikaly, Mark Meadows, and Chris Grasso.

Tal Cohen's unique piano style owes its roots to the Jewish folk songs and classical music he played in his formative years growing up in Israel. After moving to Perth at the age of 16, Tal continued his music studies at the prestigious Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts where he completed a bachelor degree, honours and masters in jazz performance. Yellow Sticker, Tal's first album as a leader, was released in December 2011.

Consisting largely of original tunes, it showcases some of Perth's finest musicians with Jamie Oehlers on saxophone, Chris Tarr on drums and Pete Jeavons on bass. In May 2013 Tal performed a number of shows with world-renowned saxophonist Joe Lovano at the inaugural Perth International Jazz Festival, including a sold-out performance at the Perth Concert Hall. In 2014, Tal Cohen was named the winner of the Barry Harris National Jazz Competition in Detroit, Michigan, and in 2015 he was named the 2015 winner of the coveted Freedman Jazz Fellowship in Sydney, Australia.

Unexpected interpretations of standard jazz repertoire captured in an intimate duo setting. On original compositions, the voice is used as a collaborative instrumental texture rather than as a featured soloist.

Most of the tracks on this album are products of live experimentation ideas that gradually developed into compositions and arrangements. We arrived in the studio without an agenda and played exactly what felt natural and organic in the moment. All laughs and "mistakes" have been left untouched, and what you will hear is an honest representation of what happens when we get together and make music we feel deeply connected to. We feel that the imperfections are what make this album unique.